KOTA KINABALU:
United Sabah Bajau Organisation (USBO) president Datuk Seri Salleh Tun Said has called on the Bajaus, who form the largest bulk of Muslim bumiputera voters in Sabah, to vote for the Barisan Nasional (BN) come polling day on Saturday. He said a strong support should be given to the BN in line with Usbo’s stand as a non-governmental organisation, to support the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the federal level and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the state level. Salleh, a former chief minister, stressed that Usbo had been consistent in its stand to support the Government either at the federal or state level, and had repeatedly made known its stand to assist in the efforts to strengthen Umno. “In line with this principle, I’m calling all members of the Bajau community to give their strong and undivided support to all the BN candidates, to give the BN an absolute victory and return it to power. “This is important so that the Government can continue with its development agenda including the Ninth Malaysia Plan and the Sabah Development Corridor,” he told Bernama yesterday. Usbo, formerly known as United Sabah Bajau Association, is a non-governmental organisation championing the cause of the Bajau community in all aspects including economy and education. The Bajau community has 12 ethnic and sub-ethnic groups namely Bajau, Iranun, Sama, Ubian, Yakan, Suluk, Kagayan, Binadan/Banaran, Jama Mapun, Sibutu, Sikubang and Simunul. Salleh, who is former Kota Belud member of parliament, said by giving a strong support to the BN, the Bajaus would be assured of a brighter future. “We are confident that the BN will be able to bring about a paradigm shift to the community,” he said, referring to the BN manifesto that pledges fairness to all communities in the country. He said the Bajaus, many of whom are still living in coastal areas and remote islands, including nomadic Sea Bajaus who still live on boats, needed the attention, which only the BN could provide. - Bernama
